White. Paper. HP Ethernet Virtual Interconnect: Extending the Benefits of Virtualized Environments Across Geographically Dispersed Data Centers

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1 White Paper HP Ethernet Virtual Intercnnect: Extending the Benefits f Virtualized Envirnments Acrss Gegraphically Dispersed Data Centers By Bb Laliberte, Senir Analyst August 2012 This ESG White Paper was cmmissined by HP and is distributed under license frm ESG.

2 White Paper: HP Ethernet Virtual Intercnnect 2 Cntents Highly Virtualized Envirnments... 3 Challenges... 4 Why Data Center Intercnnects Are Needed... 5 HP Slutins... 5 Ethernet Virtual Intercnnect... 6 Multi-tenant Device Cntext... 6 The Bigger Truth... 8 All trademark names are prperty f their respective cmpanies. Infrmatin cntained in this publicatin has been btained by surces The Enterprise Strategy Grup (ESG) cnsiders t be reliable but is nt warranted by ESG. This publicatin may cntain pinins f ESG, which are subject t change frm time t time. This publicatin is cpyrighted by The Enterprise Strategy Grup, Inc. Any reprductin r redistributin f this publicatin, in whle r in part, whether in hard-cpy frmat, electrnically, r therwise t persns nt authrized t receive it, withut the express cnsent f the Enterprise Strategy Grup, Inc., is in vilatin f U.S. cpyright law and will be subject t an actin fr civil damages and, if applicable, criminal prsecutin. Shuld yu have any questins, please cntact ESG Client Relatins at

3 White Paper: HP Ethernet Virtual Intercnnect 3 Highly Virtualized Envirnments Organizatins cntinue t invest in technlgies that enable higher levels f agility and flexibility. And t date, mst rganizatins have fcused n creating these highly agile envirnments within the fur walls f the data center. Hwever, as IT rganizatins and the technlgies they rely n becme mre mature, many rganizatins are trying t extend the agility benefits nt nly within ne data center, but acrss tw r mre. Such data center intercnnectin will nly place greater pressure n netwrks IT depends n fr peratinal cntinuity and a satisfactry user experience. ESG research highlights the trend t cnslidate data centers. It nt nly shws up as a tp-ten initiative in the ESG 2012 IT Spending Intentins survey, but it is als illustrated in ESG s Data Center Netwrking Trends reprt, in which 63% f the respndents indicated that they had either just cmpleted r were actively cnslidating data centers (see Figure 1). 1 While cnslidatin will help t reduce csts and create mre efficient cmpute resurces, it als means envirnments will perate at a much larger scale and ptentially with higher levels f cmplexity. This scale and cmplexity will be further cmpunded as enterprise rganizatins becme mre like service prviders and build ut multi-tenant envirnments. The Data Center Netwrk Trends reprt indicated that almst half (48%) f the rganizatins cnslidating were creating multi-tenant envirnments t supprt different business units. Figure 1. Data Center Cnslidatin Is yur rganizatin currently engaged in r has it recently cmpleted a data center cnslidatin prject? (Percent f respndents, N=280) N, 37% Yes, 63% Surce: Enterprise Strategy Grup, T handle the increased scale and drive efficiencies in these larger data centers, rganizatins have been leveraging virtualizatin. In fact, ESG research indicates that increasing the use f server virtualizatin technlgy has been either the number-ne initiative r has tied as the number-ne initiative fr the last three years. As rganizatins mature, these envirnments enjy benefits beynd simple cnslidatin and efficiency tied t driving up the number f Virtual Machines (VMs) per physical server. Many rganizatins are nw lking t achieve a mre cmprehensive and dynamic IT envirnment by creating a private clud. Private cluds will allw rganizatins t bst availability mre easily and mve r deply new wrklads nt the cmpute resurces that can best serve them. ESG research supprts this bservatin; building ut private cluds was als amng the tp-ten IT initiatives fr Surce: ESG Research Reprt, Data Center Netwrking Trends, January 2012.

4 White Paper: HP Ethernet Virtual Intercnnect 4 As a result f these trends, cnnectivity between gegraphically dispersed data centers is becming mre imprtant. While rganizatins recgnize the benefits f a private clud cntained within the fur walls f ne data center, many see the ptential t extend thse capabilities amng the remaining data centers as well. T d that, rganizatins must be able t migrate VMs acrss lng distances, live. Depending n distance and netwrk type, that task may be much easier said than dne. This paper explres HP slutins fr Ethernet Virtual Intercnnect (EVI) and Multi-tenant Device Cntext (MDC) t illustrate hw they can enable rganizatins t extend thse private cluds acrss multiple data centers. Challenges Extending private cluds acrss gegraphically dispersed data centers and perfrming live VM migratins are nt simple tasks. While many rganizatins have relied n cnnectivity t ensure site-t-site cmmunicatin and supprt disaster recvery, the ability t create a multi-site layer 2 netwrk that is simple t perate and that supprts grwing multi-tenant envirnments can create sme significant challenges, such as: Dealing with multiple types f cnnectins between data centers. Depending n the rganizatin, its lcatin, and the distances amng its data centers, rganizatins may deply several cnnectivity types, each with benefits and dwnsides. The challenge cmes in managing multiple technlgies that have varius interfaces and ptentially cme frm multiple netwrk vendrs. A hetergeneus netwrk culd include: Dense wave divisin multiplexing (DWDM) This transmissin technique is highly effective in metrplitan areas (it spans up t 120 km), and it prvides superir bandwidth with lw latency. Hwever, DWDM is the mst expensive ptin, and it likely will require IT staff t gain new skills t cnfigure and manage it prperly. Typically, nly carrier netwrks leverage DWDM and dark fiber (i.e., unused fiber) between metr lcatins because the csts and cmplexity rise s dramatically ver lnger distances. And, while timeframes vary (depending n the availability f dark fiber), it is cmmn fr DWDM-based netwrk deplyments t take six mnths t a year. Multiprtcl label switching (MPLS) netwrks leveraging virtual private LAN services (VPLS) Mst service prviders can set up a new MPLS link between data centers, extend the layer 2 netwrk cnnectin with VPLS, and enable multicast t a number f sites. Hwever, it may require quite a bit f time (up t several mnths) t install and cnfigure these links. Organizatins als need t wrk clsely with the service prvider t cnfigure the cnnectins prperly. IP netwrks The mst cmmn type f netwrk cnnectivity, IP netwrks are readily available and easily prvisined. Mst f netwrk administratrs have strng IP skills, and adding additinal bandwidth t an existing IP netwrk can be dne in minutes. High csts. While rganizatins need agility and flexibility, they als need t keep an eye n their budget, which is mre likely t stay flat r decline than it is t increase. DWDM links may be ptimal fr metr areas. Hwever, an rganizatin must be prepared t pay the initial capital csts (including fiber leases, DWDM equipment, sftware, and upfrnt charges fr building ut laterals and risers in a data center), and be prepared t cver the nging maintenance and peratinal charges. Ineffective use f resurces. While cnslidatin ffers a number f benefits, reducing the number f data centers can increase the vulnerability f a business if ne f thse data centers ges dwn. T mitigate the risk, rganizatins that can affrd it will typically build a redundant ht r warm data center t be used if the primary site suffers an utage. Hwever, leaving all that pricey equipment and sftware n standby is nt an effective use f resurces. Management issues. The larger and mre cmplex an envirnment becmes, the harder it is t manage. This fact is equally true fr rganizatins lking t extend a highly virtualized, multi-tenant envirnment acrss multiple data centers. Organizatins leveraging multiple types f netwrks may have t utilize

5 White Paper: HP Ethernet Virtual Intercnnect 5 multiple management tls, t, frcing peratins teams t crrelate events manually and lengthening trubleshting effrts. Why Data Center Intercnnects Are Needed T vercme the challenges f extending highly virtualized and multi-tenant envirnments, rganizatins need data center intercnnects that d mre than simply transfer data. They need intercnnects that: Imprve business prcesses. By creating a data center intercnnect that allws rganizatins t extend their private cluds between multiple data centers, thse rganizatins can: Create fllw-the-sun envirnments. The ability t live migrate wrklads t the envirnments that require them allws rganizatins t deliver a better experience and deliver the mst up-tdate infrmatin fr their applicatins. A fllw-the-sun setup culd encmpass an rganizatin s call centers, engineering prjects, r applicatin-develpment apps. Achieve practive business cntinuity. Again, the ability t live migrate wrklads creates many new pssibilities, including the ability t shift wrklads ut f harm s way, thus minimizing risk t the business and ensuring cntinuus peratins. Fr example, a cmpany with data centers n the U.S. East Cast culd migrate its wrklads t a data center in the Midwest befre a hurricane hits. Better handle bursty r seasnal traffic. Creating the apprpriate data center intercnnect allws rganizatins t lad balance heavy r bursty wrklads amng gegraphically dispersed data centers, and such lad balancing allws fr mre effective use f data center cmpute resurces. Ensure multi-tenant capabilities. As rganizatins build ut private cluds t service multiple business units, they shuld ensure they can create lgically separate envirnments t service these different parts f the rganizatin and supprt the different applicatins used by them. Simplify management. With IT needing t respnd mre quickly t the needs f a business, any new slutin deplyed shuld make life simpler, nt harder. Therefre, management tls shuld prvide a single-pane-f-glass interface t manage the entire data center intercnnects, and they shuld be simple and intuitive t use. Simplify netwrk cnnectivity amng data centers. The key t being able t respnd t ever-changing needs invlves turning up new services rapidly, wherever and whenever the business needs them. This capability includes enabling live migratins f VM wrklads acrss data centers t handle unexpected demand r as part f a planned migratin. Speed will be very imprtant. Organizatins can t wait fr dark fiber t be deplyed r even wait fr a carrier t turn up additinal MPLS/VPLS services. Thus, the ability t leverage simple IP cnnectins will be advantageus. Offer high availability. It is crucial fr rganizatins t cntinue peratins in the event f an utage r disaster. A multiple data center envirnment must be able cntinue t perate in the event f a single device failure. HP Slutins T better enable rganizatins t extend the benefits f multi-tenant private cluds acrss multiple data centers, HP has develped data center intercnnect technlgies t help rganizatins quickly and easily extend layer 2 netwrking t multiple data centers. HP refers t this technlgy as Ethernet Virtual Intercnnect (EVI) and has develped sme cmplementary Multi-tenant Device Cntext (MDC) technlgies specifically t extend multitenant envirnments between data centers. The gal f these slutins is t create an verlay netwrk enabling rganizatins t perfrm VM migratins quickly and easily acrss multiple data centers fr higher availability, reliability, and agility.

6 White Paper: HP Ethernet Virtual Intercnnect 6 Ethernet Virtual Intercnnect HP designed EVI t simplify extending Layer 2 netwrks ver existing r new cnnectins s that rganizatins can expand the benefits f private cluds acrss multiple data centers. HP EVI prvides: The ability t leverage a range f HP FlexFabric netwrking devices including the 12500, 9500, 7500, and SR880. These devices enable HP DCI slutins ver a range f data center intercnnects such as IP, MPLS/VPLS, r DWDM netwrks. Nte: Currently, the is the nly device certified fr IP (EVI) cnnectins as f the writing f this reprt, August 2012) Multipathing and lad balancing between data centers. This capability ensures ptimal bandwidth utilizatin and helps t accelerate VM migratins. The multipathing and lad balancing is accmplished with HP s Intelligent Resilient Framewrk (IRF) technlgy, which autmatically lad balances available bandwidth in a fully active/active cnfiguratin. IRF extends the cntrl plane acrss multiple switches, which als helps t simply management and increase resiliency. Cnnectivity that scales up t eight data centers. Even after data center cnslidatin, enterprise rganizatins still are running multiple pairs f data centers t supprt peratins acrss the glbe and ensure business cntinuity in the event f a reginal disaster. EVI allws rganizatins t cnnect as many as eight gegraphically dispersed data centers t better accmmdate fllw-the-sun activities, bursty traffic, r practive business cntinuity effrts. Simplified layer 2 extensin. HP EVI greatly simplifies the extending f layer 2 netwrks by encapsulating the traffic ver GRE tunnels and islating the Spanning Tree Prtcl autmatically. By ding this, HP eliminates end-t-end lps in the STP. Administratrs simply add sites withut wrrying abut MAC addresses. Simplified management. HP claims that rganizatins can deply EVI links with just 5 steps requiring nly a few minutes as cmpared t a legacy appraches which may need significantly mre steps and require mnths t set up. Additinally HP slutins aggregate management f all data center intercnnects thrugh a single pane f glass. Multi-tenant Device Cntext Fr rganizatins with multi-tenant envirnments, EVI can leverage MDC technlgy t partitin a single int multiple lgical devices. This technlgy prvides: Reduced physical devices. MDC enables rganizatins t partitin a int fur virtual switch envirnments. Each switch can run its wn instance f EVI, dramatically reducing the number f physical devices required t accmmdate multiple custmer requirements. This slutin als extends true multitenancy acrss multiple data centers. Fewer physical devices will help rganizatins lwer the ttal cst f wnership and enable them t pursue a green data center strategy. Full-featured perfrmance. Nt nly can each MDC hst its wn EVI instance, but each MDC als has its wn resurces and quality f service. Each MDC has the ability t assign cnfiguratin files, access parameters, and management interfaces. Because MDCs independently maintain cnfiguratin and data plane frwarding tables, administratrs can define virtual ruting, frwarding, and VLAN IDs withut having t wrry abut ther MDCs. High availability and resiliency. MDC is fully integrated with HP s IRF t ensure high availability. As with HP s physical switches, IRF technlgy will lad balance available traffic autmatically in an active/active cnfiguratin in an MDC envirnment. This will ensure resiliency and availability in multitenant envirnments.

7 White Paper: HP Ethernet Virtual Intercnnect 7 T help accelerate the adptin f data center intercnnects and EVI/MDC technlgy fr its custmers, HP is making it easy fr rganizatins t adpt them by including these technlgies in the HP perating system (Cmware7) at n additinal charge. HP claims this culd save their custmers tens f thusands in licensing fees per device as cmpared t ther vendr slutins.

8 The Bigger Truth White Paper: HP Ethernet Virtual Intercnnect 8 The evlutin r maturity f virtualized cmpute envirnments is leading many rganizatins t create highly flexible and agile multi-tenant private cluds. While recgnizing the benefits f these envirnments within the fur walls f the data center, rganizatins have a strng desire t extend thse benefits amng multiple data centers. The ability t extend the cncept f multi-tenant clud envirnments between data centers will enable rganizatins t deply fllw-the-sun wrklads, dynamically utilize glbal cmpute resurces t better handle bursty r seasnal traffic, and enable practive business cntinuity. Thse imprvements, in turn, will enable rganizatins t enhance business prcesses and better serve their custmers and partners. The key t a successful data center intercnnect deplyment is being able t leverage simple IP cnnectivity t quickly ramp up services while minimizing csts and cmplexity. IP is ubiquitus, it typically des nt require additinal skill sets, and it is cst effective. HP has designed its EVI technlgy t take advantage f IP netwrks and enable rganizatins t extend their multitenant private cluds further. EVI cmbined with MDC enables true multi-tenancy amng up t eight data centers and prvide a cmplete slutin. Fr enterprises, HP EVI takes data center intercnnects t the next level f simplicity and ease f use, enabling cnnectins in nly 5 steps and a few minutes t enable lng-distance VM mbility, business cntinuity and clud agility.

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